The Communication Centre of the province of Chennai, popularly known as the DBICA – Don Bosco Institute of Communication Arts with its humble beginnings in the late nineties, is today a full-fledged communication centre. It was on 24th July 1997, that the centre was christened as DBICA and blessed by Most. Rev. Joseph Antony and inaugurated by Fr. Francis Schlooz Sdb. In the past nine years, DBICA has been actively involved in imparting values, skills and promoting Media literacy among young people and those involved in the field of media ministry.
Vision Statement:
In the footsteps of Don Bosco, our father and founder, DBICA strives to make the youth of Tamil Nadu participate in the world of mass media through a critical and intelligent consumption of all media products: through training in creative media and communication skills and production, thus creating a better and more just media environment and a more humane culture and in this process awaken and empower people, in particular the youth.
Formation and Training
In the field of formation and training, DBICA trains and forms all young people in schools, colleges, parishes and youth groups educating them towards understanding of media. Media education has been the primary thrust of DBICA right from its beginning.
DBICA also offers other special courses in creative media and communication skills, photography, videography, acting, editing, etc.
The Media Club that DBICA has launched in various schools is another new initiative, trying to promote a positive and prudent consumption of media messages and images.
Seminars and Research
Another important objective of DBICA is to educate people and create awareness on the impacts of mass media on society, culture and religion and be the voice of the people in issues relating to media and society.
ATHIRVUGAL the research wing cum film movement of DBICA, organizes monthly seminars (second Saturday of every month) and research on media related themes, media issues, movies, social issues and other current events, and strives to promote a better cinema culture.
In all these years, DBICA has hosted hundreds of interactive seminars on important media cum social issues, with important personalities participating in them and thus creating an alternate media movement promoting media awareness and social responsibility. DBICA also offers a platform for young artists to screen their short films and documentaries.
Production
DBICA has produced lot of informative social videos for the youth and educators, all targeted to create media cum social awareness, and promoting faith and values among the youth. In the past years a number of productions have been done on street children, on the problems of rag-pickers, street girls, Dalits, and other social problems. Some of our productions have been telecasted on the national and local channels.
DBICA carries out a number of Productions at various levels, in the area of social awareness, media education, religion etc. The well-equipped audio-video editing suite with the state of art equipments (FCP Edit Suite for Video and Nuendo & Pro Tools for Audio) has made our productions easier. The production team of DBICA does most of her own productions.
Documentation:
DBICA also does lot of documentation in the field of communication, mass media and society and it has and an organized library, with more than 2000 media related books to its pride. DBICA has also a video library with lot of documentation on Media and Society, be it short films and documentaries, movies etc.
Annual Festivals
There are other annual events like the PSA Fest (Public Service Announcement Fest), Theatre Festival, Short Film Festival, Documentary Festival etc., that DBICA organizes in collaboration with other Colleges, NGOs and Media institutions.
Future Dreams & Plans
•Make DBICA a highly professional Media Education institute (research, seminars, productions and a journal) with Media Education as its specialization. DBICA will offer a Certificate Programme for Teachers in Media Education.
•Prepare a Don Bosco Chennai Media literacy Website, and prepare a Media Education packages both in English and Tamil.
•Organize professional courses in Journalism, Media Education, Communications skills, Rural and Developmental Communication in collaboration with SIGA and Sacred Heart College.
•Create a network among cultural groups that are based on folk media and alternative forms of communication.
•DBICA will work towards starting sub sectors, for rural development and networking with local cultural groups.
Location
DBICA
The Citadel
45 Landons Road
Chennai – 600 010
Phone : +91-44-26423930
Fax : +91-44-26411310
http://www.dbicachennai.com